Barouk cedar reserve - Lake - Telecom tower - Massyaf el Mir - Lamartine tree - Maasser el Shouf (Shouf reserve)

Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve, accounting for a quarter of the remaining cedar forest in Lebanon, was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in July 2005. This reserve covers approximately 5% of the total area of Lebanon. Some trees are estimated to be 2,000 years old. In addition to the main 3 entrances (Ain Zhalta, Barouk and Maasser), there are other less-known entrances (Mresti, Jbaa and Niha).
This hike was dedicated to my cedar tree in Barouk offered by one of my beloved patients (A scoliosis warrior!). We started from Barouk cedar reserve entrance and soon after walking on the wide dirt road, we started our climb through the forest following a perfectly blazed trail (i don't usually like super blazed trails!). The ascent is long but without technical difficulty. When we reached the lake, i started searching for my tree, finally found at the south end of the lake. Adopting a tree in Shouf reserve is an amazing idea and it's a wonderful gift to your beloved ones. Tree "owners" will have a 10-year reserve membership allowing them to enter the reserve for free :) it's not about saving 250000 LL but having a tree with your name next to it is a joy for a nature lover! After watering my tree and taking lot of photos there, we continued our way heading to the telecom tower. The telecom tower area is a military area and pictures are not legally allowed inside the site. You will have an amazing view of the Bekaa valley, Mount Hermon, the Anti-Lebanon and the Qaraoun lake. The next destination was Massyaf el Mir, a peaceful place that can be reached by car. You will find there people from all ages spending time around old cedar trees. After a good rest there, we took an off-trail path to join the LMT. If you want to avoid this off-trail (a bit tough) part, take the LMT just before reaching Massyaf el Mir (there's a sign). Once on the LMT, the trail is clear and leads you to the majestic Lamartine tree in Maaser el Shouf reserve. We had our lunch break there. Lamartine cedar estimated at more than 2,000 years old. "Alphonse de Lamartine was an Orientalist with a particular interest in Lebanon and the Middle East. He travelled to Lebanon, Syria and the Holy Land in 1832–33. During his trip to Lebanon he had met prince Bashir Shihab II and prince Simon Karam, who were enthusiasts of poetry. A valley in Lebanon is still called the Valley of Lamartine as a commemoration of that visit, and the Lebanon cedar forest still harbors the "Lamartine Cedar", which is said to be the cedar under which Lamartine had sat [almost] 200 years ago (wikipedia). Instead of continuing on the trail leading to Maasser el Shouf village, we went down off-trail (my way), making a shortcut to the lower trail going from Maasser to Barouk. This lower trail is not well known but it's really beautiful being less blazed. I strongly recommend this loop but you have to know that this route may not be valid in winter. Snow-covered trails may be risky at some points so follow your common sense while following trails in different seasons. I am posting my trails to help all outdoor lovers. Kindly review my trails after following them and keep it clean wherever you go. Leave no trace! Keep hiking and bring more people off the couch :)